Taming of the Monster

DBusiness asked Oakland Hills members to recount their experiences playing the south course, aka ‘The Monster,’ site of the 2008 PGA Championship
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Photograph by Brian Walters

Michael Mihalich
President and CEO,MJR Theatres, Oak Park

Best shot? A hole-in-one on No. 17. I used a 5-iron.
Worst shot? There’s been a lot of those, but hitting out of bounds on No. 1.
Why I like Oakland Hills? It’s a tough course, especially with the changing winds.
PGA champ? Tiger Woods

 

Rick Bayliss
COO, Oakland Hills Country Club,
Bloomfield Township

Best shot? A 3-wood to 2.5 feet above the hole on No. 9, but I missed the putt.
Worst shot? Same hole. I hooked it onto the No. 10 tee and nearly hit some members.
Why I like Oakland Hills? It tests every club in your bag.
PGA champ? Tiger Woods

 

Cindy Fudalla
Media Center Chairman, 90th PGA Championship

Best shot? Reaching No. 2 on my second shot.
Worst shot? Hitting the halfway house out of a bunker on No. 18.
Why I like Oakland Hills? It’s a hard, traditional golf course.
PGA champ? Tiger Woods

 

Ed Myles
President, J.E. Myles Inc.,
Troy

Best shot? Landing my approach on No. 18 close to the pin with a 5-wood.
Worst shot? I hit a couple onto Lahser Road on No. 5.
Why I like Oakland Hills? It’s a golfer’s golf course, plus it’s great for hosting clients.
PGA champ? Phil Mickelson

 

Ron Marcinelli
Executive Vice President, Comerica Bank, Detroit

Best shot? Hit the pin on No. 17 for a tap-in birdie.
Worst shot? Putting the green on No. 9.
Why I like Oakland Hills? The greens are some of the toughest and best in the country.
PGA champ? Tiger Woods

 

Peter Kupelian
Partner, Kupelian, Ormond & Magy, Southfield

Best shot? Landing three inches from the pin on No. 9, and I made the birdie.
Worst shot? Knocking it out of bounds on No. 18.
Why I like Oakland Hills? It provides a real test every time you play.
PGA champ? Tiger Woods

 

Bill Larkin
President, Next Tee,
Bingham Farms

Best shot? A pair of holes-in-one on No. 3.
Worst shot? A shot off one of the tees which ended up 5 yards behind the tee.
Why I like Oakland Hills? Membership; golf at its finest.
PGA champ? Padraig Harrington

 

Donald R. Kegley Jr.
President, Cunningham-Limp, Farmington Hills

Best shot? My approach on No. 18 went in, for the club’s first double eagle there.
Worst shot? Went way left on No. 1 and clipped the bleachers before the Ryder Cup.
Why I like Oakland Hills? The course is an oasis.
PGA champ? Adam Scott

 

P. Jeffrey Trimmer
Retired Executive,
Chrysler LLC, Auburn Hills

Best shot? Holed out on No. 11 with a 5-iron.
Worst shot? As a kid I popped my drive on a long-ball contest, but still made the fairway to win it.
Why I like Oakland Hills? It’s never boring, after 50 years.
PGA champ? Tiger Woods

 

Kenneth G. Myers
President, CRA,
Bloomfield Hills

Best shot? Scored a two on No. 11.
Worst shot? There’s plenty of those, but I did put three in the water once on No. 16.
Why I like Oakland Hills? I love all of the history here.
PGA champ? Tiger Woods